Beechfield United Football Club

POSTED: July 09 2018 15:37:40 By Keith Long - 9v9 Summer League Success For Beechy Ladies

As part of their pre-season training programme Beechfield United Ladies decided to enter Manchester FA Womens 9-a-side Summer League instead of playing various friendly games. On Sunday 1st July 2018 their first fixture was a local derby game against Swinton FC Ladies who play in the same 11-a-side league as Beechy. At the Co-op Academy, Failsworth kick-off was 10am when the air temperature was 22 degrees and United had a squad of eleven players that included three new members but no recognised goalkeeper. Shauna Smith was Beechy's keeper for the first half and both teams started slowly making numerous mistakes in the opening few minutes. But the standard of play did improve and Joanna Szafranska, Stacy Partridge, Elina Parker, Becky Topping and Sophie Wainwright helped the new players settle into the team.

The first half failed to produce any goals and in the second half new recruit Aimee Greenwood took on the keepers role from Shauna Smith who reverted to her normal defensive position. Slowly Beechy created some very good accurate passing moves with new players Crystal Barker and Niki Carling heavily involved in the action. The Swinton Ladies keeper was kept busy and made several smart saves when Faye Cassidy, Becky Topping, Stacy Partridge, Sophie Wainwright and Lauren Sharp hammered shots on target. But eventually United were rewarded when Play of the Match Faye Cassidy produced a fine finish for the opening goal. Beechy quickly added two more goals via Becky Topping and Faye Cassidy again and were worthy 3-0 winners at the final whistle.

Squad for the game: Stacy Partridge, Niki Carling, Crystal Barker, Sophie Wainwright, Faye Cassidy, Joanna Szafranska, Shauna Smith, Becky Topping, Lauren Sharp, Elina Parker, Aimee Greenwood.